In an intense back-and-forth affair, the DLSU Green Batters outlasted the ADMU Blue Eagles, 11-8, earlier today at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Diamond. With the win, La Salle clinches a spot in this year’s finals, while defending champion Ateneo bows out of contention after losing its fourth game of the season.
Ateneo scored first with a Dino Altomonte RBI double in the first inning, but the Green Batters immediately responded in the second inning with a three run outburst.
Both teams would continue to tack on runs before Javi Macasaet finally tied the game for the Blue Eagles at five, with an RBI single in the sixth inning. Later in the frame, Marco Mallari would come in to score to give ADMU the 6-5 lead over its rival.
The offense wouldn’t stop there, however. The very next inning, La Salle would once again explode for three runs as a Gabriel Pineda popup was dropped in right field to score two runs, after a Diego Lozano RBI single earlier in the inning, to give the Season 78 champions an 8-6 lead.
With their backs against the wall, however, the Blue Eagles continued to fight to keep their title hopes alive. After Altomonte and Kiko Andaya got on base, Sarmiento sent an Arvin Herrera pitch deep to right field to bring home both of his teammates and tie the game once again, this time at eight.
La Salle, however, would remain unfazed. Immediately, Paolo Salud sent a deep drive to left field to drive in the eventual go-ahead run from second base. While the team would leave the bases loaded in the frame, another run came in to score in this inning and the next for an 11-8 lead heading into the bottom half of the ninth inning.
With just three outs left for Ateneo, Herrera made sure to not let them back in the game, striking out Gio Salvattiera before getting Radito Banzon to flyout to end the game.
After losing to the Blue Eagles in the first round, this was a good statement win for the Green Batters as they emphasized their spot at the top of the UAAP standings.
La Salle closes the second round with a game against the AdU Soaring Falcons on March 7, 1 pm, at the same venue.
